Baroness Warsi backs Gove on Old Etonians complaint

Senior Tory Education Secretary Baroness Warsi has complained about the numbers privately-educated who are at the heart of British politics, backing Michael Gove's claim there are a "ridiculous" number of Old Etonians in Cameron's inner circle.

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Baroness Warsi has said that she backed Michael Gove's complaints about the number of Old Etonians in David Cameron's inner circle because she believes the Education Secretary wants a "world class state system".

"What Michael wants to create is a first class, world class state system which means that in future years you will have more pupils from state schools, people like me, around the cabinet table, and in that I fully support Michael Gove," the faith and communities minister said.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. Credit: PA

But Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: "This is open warfare in the Conservative Party.

"Sayeeda Warsi is making it clear that David Cameron is out of touch with a blatant attack on his style of Government.

"Once again we are seeing the Tories fighting like ferrets in a sack rather than taking action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis facing hard-working people," he added.

The Education Secretary's comments fuelled Labour claims the Government was "out of touch" and were reported by The Spectator to have earned him an angry reprimand from the Prime Minister,

Asked if she agreed with him, Baroness Warsi told ITV's The Agenda: "Michael was making an incredibly serious point that it can't be right that the 7% of kids who go to independent school end up at the top tables, not just of politics, but banking, and law, and every other profession."